Tubular lamp base chucks for basing machine



Dec. 6, 1955 G. D. BRENT ET AL TUBULAR LAMP BASE cnucxs FOR BASINGMACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1951 INVENTORS ATTORN Dec. 6,1955 e. D. BRENT ETAL TUBULAR LAMP BASE CHUCKS FOR BASING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1951 5 a a M l w OJ 5 a 4 4 J W w 54 4 NW?N I w M IL M 4% WI HHWWHPL M I l Ill; IrHH UIU 1. Alll i 5 a, i I L 3 W6 4 8 w 5 n w m m M we? R w n m A 4% 7 $0M l HIIV I Uie States PatentOfilice TUBULAR LAMP BASE CHUCKS FOR BASING MACHINE George D. Brent,John M. Campbell, and Daniel S. Gustin, Fairmont, W. Va, assignors toWestinghouse Eiectric (Iorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application October 16, 1951, Serial No. 251,554 4Claims. (Cl. 154-1.6)

This invention relates to basing machines and, more particularly, totubular lamp base chucks for a basing machine.

In the present method of basing tubular lamps, such as fluorescent lampsand the like, an upper and a lower basing chuck, usually bronze, areemployed to correctly position the cement pre-filled bases with respectto the lamp envelope and align the pins of each base with respect toeach other. The chucks also hold the lamp and the bases in a verticalposition in a conventional machine as it rotates the lamp in the basingoven. The present chuck, of generally hollow T-shaped configuration, hasbase pin locating holes in the bottom thereof. The continuous insertioninto, and the removal of the base pins from, these holes wears off thecorners and elongates the holes, thereby causing misalignment of thebases relative to the lamp envelope. After 8 to 10 months of daily use,the worn chucks must be replaced and re-conditioned. This in itself is atime consuming and expensive task.

Further, the bottom of the plastic base rests on the bottom of the basechuck which after several cycles of, for example, a 48 head machine,becomes extremely hot and the base blisters.

Alcohol in the basing cement vaporizes therefrom on the application ofthe necessary basing heat from the oven. This vapor collects in the areaaround the base and, if allowed to mix with the atmosphere, forms anexplosive mixture and tends to maintain the cement in a plastic state.Further, at the end of the basing cycle, when the lead wires are cut bythe wire cutting file and the lamp is removed from the chucks while thecement is hot and plastic, the cement bond between the base and the lampis broken and the loose bases may result. Movement of the loose basescauses loss of the desired base pin alignment relative to each other,and in addition, crooked bases.

Hence, it'has been found advantageous, according to our invention, toprovide a tubular lamp base chuck with a hardened insert or bottom pinguide plate which reduces maintenance and over a long period of timeimproves base pin alignment during the basing operation. This chuck isprovided with an air blast through a hole in the bottom pin guide platefor cooling, near the end of the basing cycle, the base, baked cementand a lamp stem and for removing the potentially explosive evolvedalcohol vapor which also retards the setting of the cement, therebyeliminating loose and blistered bases. Our chuck comprises a hollowcup-like housing having a peripheral flange, supporting ribs on and anaxial hole in its bottom surface and a pin guide plate with base pinlocating slots and an air blast hole therein, diametrically securedacross the cavity. Further, the prior art style chucks may beeconomically reconditioned by machining the bottoms into the desiredconfiguration with supporting ribs there on, and by afiixing the pinguide plate thereto as mentioned above.

ject of overcoming the afore-mentioned disadvantages of the prior arttubular lamp basing machine chucks.

Specifically, an object of the present invention is to reducemaintenance over a long period of time on the basing chuck and toimprove base pin alignment during the basing operation.

Another specific object is to provide a tubular lamp base chuck with aircooling, cycle, to cool the base, baked cement and the lamp stem, and toremove any evolved alcohol vapor from the hasing area, therebyeliminating loose and blistered bases.

A further object of the invention is a tubular lamp base chuck having ahollow flanged housing with supporting ribs on its bottom surface and ahardened pin guide plate with base pin locating slots and an air blasthole therein, diametrically secured across the cavity.

An additional object is a hardened pin guide plate for a tubular lampbase chuck adaptable for use in reconditioning worn base chucks of theprior art configuration.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear to thoseskilled in the art to which it appertains as the description proceeds,both by direct recitation thereof, and by implication from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan View of a 48-head basing machine embodyingour invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged radial sectional view at a station of the machineof Fig. l, on line II-II of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a lower air-cooledspring-supported basing machine chuck of our invention, with parts insection on line III-III of Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of anupper-air-cooled basing machine chuck of our invention;

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view of the chuck on the line V-V of Fig.4, in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the chuck on the line ViVI ofFig. 5, in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first considering I Carrier, andchuck mounted thereon This carrier 11 (Fig. 2) consists of an outercylindrical casing 14 mounted, as by suitable bolts or welds, on anupper portion 17, a middle portion 18, and a lower portion19 of a reelcasting 16. Said carrier is provided with a series of upper air-cooledchucks or heads 20 and lower spring-supported air-cooled chucks 21.Although any desired number of chucks may be employed on machine 10, inthe present showing 48 of said chucks are shown. Each of the upperchucks 22 is, in the embodiment of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, supported by threehollow cylindrical spacers 22, and afiixed by screws 23 within saidspacers 22 to an upper flange 24 of a Z iron support 25 having its lowerflange 26 bolted to the upper portion 17 of casting 16. The support 25extends around the periphery of carrier 11 and is suitably electricallyinsulated from casing 14 and upper portion 17 of reel 11.

Patented Dec. 6, 1955 near the end of the basing- A series of flaredapertures 27 (48 in this embodiment) are provided in upper flange -24 ofsupport 25 which register with a complementary opening in each of theupper chucks 20, .as hereinafter described.

Each of the spring-loaded or supported lower chucks 21, as shownparticularly in Figs. 2 and 3, is supported on two hollow cylindricalspacers 28, similar to spacers 22, and affixed by means of two screws 29(Fig. 3), similar to screws 23, within said spacers 28. The screws 29thread into an open-ended cylindrical body 30 of a support casting 31,having an axial hub 32 depending below said body 36). This hub 32 ispinned to a shaft or rod 33 (Fig. 2) and is slidable in a suitablebearing 34 provided an upper flange 35 (Fig. 2) of a U-shaped bracket orcasting 36. Screws 37 are employed to afiix casting 36 along itsvertical side to the casting 16 of carrier 11. The rod 33 is furtherslidable in a bearing 39 in a lower flange 38 of casting 36 and extendsthrough an L-shaped bracket 49, located near the bottom on casing 14. Onrod 33 between upper flange35 and lower flange 33 of casting 36, anadjustable hand lever or handle 41 is secured as by pinning. This handle41 has a keying projection 42 (Fig. 2) which slides in a vertical slot(not shown) in a vertical portion of casting 36, thereby preventing therotation of handle 41 and the body 3% of support casting 31 during itsreciprocating vertical travel. Between handle 41 and lower flange 38 ofcasting 36 and on red 33 a spring 43 is provided for spring-supportingsaid lower chuck 21.

Upper chucks Each of the upper chucks 20 comprises, as shown in Figs..4, and 6, a hollow inverted cup-like chuck body or housing 44, suitablybrass, having a vertical cylindrical side wall 45 and a washer like(Fig. 6) horizontal top or cover portion 46. Said chuck body is providedwith a top peripheral flange 47 extending beyond the side wall 45 in theplane of the top portion 46. As shown particularly in Fig. 6, a circularhole 48 and four quadrental supporting ribs 49, circularly arranged inspaced relationship, are machined out of the inside surface of topportion 46. A pin guide plate 50, suitably case hardened cold rolledsteel, of generally rectangular horizontal section, consists of a platebody 51 and lower flanges 52 (Fig. 5) on the lower portion of said body.These flanges 52 otplate 5% are diametrically affixed (by screws 53)between adjacent ribs 49, as shown particularly in Fig. 6, to the coverportion 46 of the chuck body 44. It will be understood that thesupporting ribs 49 depend further from said top portion 46 than theflanges 52 of plate 5t), thus providing air cooling space and preventingblistering of an upper base 57, as hereinafter explained.

pin locating slots 54 (Fig. 6) are provided in ouch plate body 51 foraligning the base pins 55 and 56 (Fig. 4; of a base 57 with respect to alamp 58 having a mount 59 with leading-in conductors 60 and 61. Thebottom surface of slots 54 and plate body 51 are beveled upwardlyapproximately 45 to facilitate insertion of pins 55 and 56 into slots54. A center air blast hole (52 is provided through each plate body 51for connection with a cooling air stream riser 63, secured to each platebody 51, as by brazing.

These risers 63, as shown in Fig. 5, curve to point radially outwardfrom the center of machine and are provided with flared ends 64terminating suitably slightly beyond the outside surface of upper flange24 of the Z iron support 25. When indexed, there are registered withsaid flared ends 64, cooling air nozzles 65 from an upper manifold 66.This manifold is afiixed by means of brackets 68 to a series of pillarsor vertical supports 67 (Fig. 2), arranged in spaced circular sequenceabout a portion or" the periphery of machine 10. Suflicient clearance isprovided between noz zles 65 and the flared nds 64 to permitthe indexingrotation of carrier 11.

4 Lower chucks Each of the lower spring supported chucks 21, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, is similar in construction to upper chucks 20 and has acup-like body 69 with a cylindrical side wall 70 and a washer-likebottom portion 71. Each lower chuck body 69 is provided with a topperipheral flange 72 extending beyond side wall 70. A segment of eachflange 72 adjacent carrier casing 14 is suitably cut off (Fig. 2) toprevent contact between said flanges and said casing. An axial hole 73and supporting ribs 74 are formed in each bottom portion 71. A pin guideplate 75, similar to plate 50, having a plate body 76 and a top flange77 is secured by screws 78 to the top surface of each bottom portion 71.As in the case of top chucks 20, guide pin slots 79 and a center airstream hole 80 are provided through each plate body 76.

In this case the upper portions 81 of each slot 79 are counterbored tofacilitate insertion and removal of base pins 55 and 56 of a lowerbase57 (Fig. 3) in and from slots 79. An air stream riser 82 secured inthe bottom of plate body 76 connects with each hole 8%) and depends fromsaid body. Said risers curve to point radially outward from the machine,and as shown in Fig. 2, are provided with flared ends 83 which registerwith nozzles 84 of a lower air stream manifold 85. By means of brackets86, lower manifold 85 is affixed to the pillars 67 and supportedthereby.

Carrier operation The carrier 11 of the basing machine 10, shown in Fig.1, rotates clockwise. The lamps 53 and cementfilled upper bases 57 andlower base 57' are loaded into the machine 10 in stations 1 to 4, ashereinafter explained. In stations 5 through 22 means for directing gasfires on upper chucks 20 and lower chucks 21, such as stationary nozzles.39, shown in Fig. 5, heat the upper base 57 andthe lower base 57' ofeach lamp 58 in gradually increasing temperature steps, thereby causingthe cement to become semi-plastic and fill every crack and crevicebetween the individual base and the lamp 58. At station 23 the lampcools somewhat to prevent bulb cracks due to the immediate applicationof an air blast. From station 24 through station 46 means for direct inga cooling air stream into said upper and lower chucks is provided. As inthe case of each upper chuck, air blasts from nozzle of upper manifold66 blow through risers 63, holes 62 in pin guide plates 5t) and holes 37in the bases 57, through the cavity between bases 57 and the ends oflamps S8, and out the base pins 55 and 56. This action of the airstreamsimultaneously removes any alcohol vapor evolved from the basingcement during the heating operation and also cools and sets the cementto prevent loose bases when the lead wires of the lamps are cut by thewire cutting file in stations and 46 and the bases are removedfrom thechucks in the lamp unloading stations 47 and 48.

Operation of the chucks According to ourinvention, the leading-inconductors 60 and 6 1 of mount 59 at each end of the lamp 53 arestraightened and inserted into their respective pins 55 and 56 of anupper base 57, suitably pro-filled with a basing cement 88. Lower.chuck21 is lowered by handle 41 on rod 33 and with the base pins 55 and 56still properly aligned with respect to the mount 59 said pins areinserted through beveledapertures 27 of 2 iron support 25 and chuck body44 in registry with aperture 27 into center slots 54 of pin guide plateof an upper chuck 20. Withthe lower chuck lowered sufiiciently to permitpassage of the lower base 57, the lower end of the lamp 53 with basepins and 56' properly aligned in the plane of a lower mount 59, is slidinwardly over the lower chuck 2,1. The lower chuck 21 is then slowlyraised, allowing the base pins 55' and 56',still aligned with respecttoa mount ,59,--to:slip easily into centering slots 79 of a lower pinguide plate 75 of a lower chuck 21.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description that our inventionhas provided an air-cooled upper chuck 20 and a lower spring-supportedchuck 21 for a basing machine 10, which have hardened pin guide plates50 and 75 for reducing maintenance on the chucks and improving base pinalignment over a long period of time. Both upper and lower chucks 20 and21 are provided with air streams near the end of the basing cycle tocool and set the baked cement, cool the lamp stem and the base toprevent blistering and remove any evolved potentially eX- plosivealcohol vapor from the basing area which retards the setting of thecement.

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been described, itwill be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim: 7

1. In combination a standard, a carrier rotatable thereabout, and havinga hollow outer casing and a peripheral head supporting flange with aplurality of apertures therein, a plurality of upper chucks, one foreach aperture, secured to said head supporting flange and adapted to becooled by a cooling air stream, a plurality of reciprocable lowerchucks, one for each upper chuck, carried by the lower portion of saidcasing and adapted to be cooled by a cooling air stream, for holdingfluorescent lamps and their based endsreceived within said upper andlower chucks; each of said lower chucks having a hollow cuplike bodyprovided with a peripheral mounting flange and a washer-like bottomportion, a plurality of upstanding base supporting ribs on said bottomportion for eliminating contact between a base provided with basingcement and said bottom portion, a diametrical hardened pin guide platebridging said bottom portion and provided with base pin locating slotsand an air blast hole in registry with a delivery hole in said base, andan air stream riser secured in said air blast hole of said guide plateto direct air into said base to cool said base and remove alcohol vaporsevolved from said basing cement during the heating operation through theunsoldered base pins of said base, and means contiguous to said carrierfor directing a cooling air stream through said lower chuck air streamusers.

2. In combination a standard, a carrier rotatable thereabout, and havinga hollow outer casing and a peripheral head supporting flange with aplurality of apertures therein, a plurality of upper chucks, one foreach aperture, secured to said head supporting flange and adapted to becooled by a cooling air stream, a plurality of reciprocable lowerchucks, one for each upper chuck, carried by the lower portion of saidcasing and adapted to be cooled by a cooling air stream, for holdingfluorescent lamps and their based ends received within said upper andlower chucks; each of said upper chucks having a hollow cup-like bodyprovided with a washer-like top portion and a peripheral mounting flangeextending from said top portion, a plurality of depending basesupporting ribs on said top portion for eliminating contact between abase provided with basing cement and said top portion, a diametricalhardened pin guide plate bridging said top portion and provided withbase pin locating slots and an air blast hole in registry with adelivery hole in said base, and an air stream riser secured in said airblast hole of said guide plate to direct air into said base to cool saidbase and remove alcohol vapors evolved from said basing cement duringthe heating operation through the unsoldered base pins of said base, andmeans contiguous to said carrier for directing a cooling air streamthrough said upper chuck air stream risers.

3. A basing machine lower chuck for a fluorescent lamp base providedwith unsoldered base pins and an air delivery hole and adapted to becooled by a cooling air stream and having a hollow cup-like bodyprovided with a peripheral mounting flange and a washer-like bottomportion, a plurality of upstanding base supporting ribs on said bottomportion for eliminating contact between a base provided with basingcement and said bottom portion, a diametrical hardened pin guide platebridging said bottom portion and provided with base pin locating slotsand an air blast hole in registry with said delivery hole in said base,and an air stream riser secured in said air blast hole of said guideplate to direct air into said base to cool said base and remove alcoholvapors evolved from said basing cement during the heating operationthrough the unsoldered base pins of said base.

4. A basing machine upper chuck for a fluorescent lamp base providedwith unsoldered base pins and an air delivery hole and adapted to becooled by a cooling air stream and having a hollow cup-like bodyprovided with a washer-like top portion and a peripheral mounting flangeextending from said top portion, a plurality of depending basesupporting ribs on said top portion for eliminating contact between abase provided with basing cement and said top portion, a diametricalhardened pin guide plate bridging said top portion and provided withbase pin locating slots and an air blast hole in registry with saiddelivery hole in said base, and an air stream riser secured in said airblast hole of said guide plate to direct air into said base to cool saidbase and remove alcohol vapors evolved from said basing cement duringthe heating operation through the unsoldered base pins of said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS821,946 Marshall May 29, 1906 822,213 Marshall May 29, 1906 1,708,756Pagan et a1 Apr. 9, 1929 1,760,507 Loebe et a1 May 27, 1930 1,813,425Rosaire July 7, 1931 2,115,575 Geiger Apr. 26,1938 2,264,304 GardnerDec. 2,1941 2,342,041 De Bold Feb. 15, 1944 2,439,884 Campbell Apr. 20,1948

